health careNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94The latest podcasts and commentary from KMUW - Wichita 89.1 FM.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94health careSun, 17 Dec 2017 09:57:36 +0000health carehttp://kmuw.org
Jim McLeanDemand for Obamacare coverage in Kansas appears strong ahead of Friday's sign-up deadline. Despite that, enrollment through the health insurance marketplace is expected to drop.Today Is The Deadline For Obamacare Enrollmenthttp://kmuw.org/post/today-deadline-obamacare-enrollment
92615 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 15 Dec 2017 18:36:05 +0000Today Is The Deadline For Obamacare EnrollmentNadya FaulxWichita’s Mayflower Clinic has moved to a new downtown location.Mayflower Clinic Opens Doors At New Downtown Wichita Locationhttp://kmuw.org/post/mayflower-clinic-opens-doors-new-downtown-wichita-location
92415 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 11 Dec 2017 23:18:22 +0000Mayflower Clinic Opens Doors At New Downtown Wichita LocationJim McLeanState Medicaid officials on Friday formally started the process of renewing KanCare, the privatized Medicaid program launched by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback in 2013. The two state agencies that oversee the private contractors that manage the program released a draft of the plan they intend to submit for federal approval after a public comment period that runs through November. Susan Mosier, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the state’s primary Medicaid agency, said changes proposed in “KanCare 2.0” are aimed at improving the health of approximately 425,000 low-income, disabled or elderly Kansans enrolled in the program and addressing the administrative and service delivery problems that have plagued it since its launch. “As we move to KanCare 2.0, we’re really moving from a plan of care to a plan of service,” Mosier said. That means shifting beyond a focus on medical care to also addressing the social factors that influence the health of individuals and Kansas Medicaid Officials Unveil KanCare Renewal Plan To Mixed Reviewshttp://kmuw.org/post/kansas-medicaid-officials-unveil-kancare-renewal-plan-mixed-reviews
90511 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 30 Oct 2017 16:08:47 +0000 Kansas Medicaid Officials Unveil KanCare Renewal Plan To Mixed ReviewsAssociated PressFederal regulators have ordered Via Christi Health in Wichita to suspend a senior care program because of "severe" deficiencies. The program, Via Christi HOPE, is designed to help senior citizens in Sedgwick County stay in their homes by offering a complete health care plan involving primary care, specialists and nurses. The Joplin Globe reports the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said program should not enroll new clients because it was not providing participants with medically necessary services. During an audit in August, regulators found problems that hurt patients' health, a failure to determine if patients could safely live at home, and a pattern of home health aides not showing up for scheduled visits. Spokesman Johnny Smith Jr. said the health system is working to address the auditors' findings.Home Health Care Program In Sedgwick County Suspendedhttp://kmuw.org/post/home-health-care-program-sedgwick-county-suspended
89769 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 12 Oct 2017 19:31:27 +0000Home Health Care Program In Sedgwick County SuspendedJim McLeanU.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas is in a familiar position. He’s one of several Republican senators under pressure to vote for the latest Obamacare repeal bill. However, Moran remains undecided. Moran, who surprised many by opposing some earlier Obamacare repeal bills and supporting others, says he’s studying the so-called Graham-Cassidy amendment. He says he still favors repeal but wants to know more about the new bill. “How we fix the Affordable Care Act matters to me and the consequences to health care providers but more importantly their patients is still front and center,” Moran says. Among other things, Graham-Cassidy would use the money now paying for Medicaid expansion to fund Medicaid block grants to the states. Under that arrangement, Kansas would initially see a $2 billion increase in federal funding , according to a study by leading health care consulting firm Avalere , but that funding would drop by $11 billion by 2036. -- Jim McLean is managing director of KMUW's KansasSenator Moran Undecided On New ACA Repeal Measurehttp://kmuw.org/post/senator-moran-undecided-new-aca-repeal-measure
88868 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 21 Sep 2017 17:48:44 +0000Senator Moran Undecided On New ACA Repeal MeasureJim McLeanLow-income Kansans are much less likely to have health insurance than their counterparts in other states, according to an analysis of new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.Young, Low-Income Kansans More Likely To Be Uninsured Than Counterparts In Other Stateshttp://kmuw.org/post/young-low-income-kansans-more-likely-be-uninsured-counterparts-other-states
88612 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 14 Sep 2017 20:19:31 +0000Young, Low-Income Kansans More Likely To Be Uninsured Than Counterparts In Other StatesNadya FaulxWichita State University and Wichita Area Technical College on Thursday celebrated their new shared space in Old Town.WATC, WSU Celebrate New Shared Space In Old Townhttp://kmuw.org/post/watc-wsu-celebrate-new-shared-space-old-town
88022 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 31 Aug 2017 22:10:34 +0000WATC, WSU Celebrate New Shared Space In Old TownNadya FaulxKansas Congressman Ron Estes stopped in Wichita Thursday on a four-city listening tour of the 4th District.Estes Discusses Immigration, Tax Reform During Town Hall In Wichitahttp://kmuw.org/post/estes-discusses-immigration-tax-reform-during-town-hall-wichita
87709 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 24 Aug 2017 20:54:35 +0000Estes Discusses Immigration, Tax Reform During Town Hall In WichitaStephen KorandaThere’s a crowded field of candidates running or considering the race for Kansas governor in 2018, and that means they’ll need to find ways to set themselves apart.Candidates For Kansas Governor Need To Set Themselves Aparthttp://kmuw.org/post/candidates-kansas-governor-need-set-themselves-apart
87217 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 14 Aug 2017 14:56:25 +0000Candidates For Kansas Governor Need To Set Themselves ApartDan MargoliesMuch attention has been paid to how the Republican health care bill passed by the House last month would increase costs for people with preexisting conditions. But a former official with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says it would affect just about everyone dramatically. Olathe native Tim Gronniger oversaw payment reform at CMS under the Obama administration. At a recent town hall sponsored by opponents of the AHCA plan, he said the House bill would cost 200,000 Kansans their coverage and raise costs for just about everyone else. “Everyone has a family member who has been sick. Everyone has that the possibility of losing their job or someone in their family member facing a layoff," he said. "And so the bill would upend protections that we all depend on.” The Senate is working on its own measure, and Gronniger said he hopes it will scrap the House bill . “Why not try to write a bill that increases insurance coverage?" he said. "It is eminently doable and totallyThousands Of Kansans Would Lose Coverage Under AHCA, Says Former Health Care Officialhttp://kmuw.org/post/thousands-kansans-would-lose-coverage-under-ahca-says-former-health-care-official
84113 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 02 Jun 2017 15:00:25 +0000Thousands Of Kansans Would Lose Coverage Under AHCA, Says Former Health Care OfficialNadya FaulxKansas is among the states with the highest number of adults who have pre-existing health conditions. Many of them could see higher health care costs if the bill to replace Obamacare is signed into law. The Kaiser Family Foundation says that in 2015, 30 percent of Kansas adults under the age of 65 reported having a pre-existing condition -- like Crohn’s disease, epilepsy and cancer -- that could have prompted insurance companies to deny coverage. Obamacare put a stop to that when it went into effect in 2014. The new bill that passed the U.S. House last week states insurance companies can’t limit coverage based on a person’s health—but states can apply for waivers to that, and companies can charge much more for coverage. "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting health insurance issuers to limit access to health coverage for individuals with preexisting conditions." The bill would set up so-called “high-risk pools” to help cover costs for people with pre-existing conditions.Health Care Bill Could Alter Coverage For Kansans With Pre-Existing Conditionshttp://kmuw.org/post/health-care-bill-could-alter-coverage-kansans-pre-existing-conditions
82959 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 08 May 2017 17:03:55 +0000Health Care Bill Could Alter Coverage For Kansans With Pre-Existing ConditionsMeg WingerterThe owner of St. Francis Health left no doubt it won’t continue to run the Topeka hospital for more than a few months. The lingering question is whether anyone else will step in to keep it from closing. Mike Slubowski, president and CEO of SCL Health, said in a news release Tuesday that he hopes to have a clear answer about the hospital’s future by the first week of May. SCL, formerly known as the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, is based in Denver. Several hundred people participated in a candlelight vigil in support of the hospital on Monday night, and Gov. Sam Brownback told reporters Tuesday that he had met with SCL officials and secured a commitment to keep the hospital open longer. Rumors had swirled that SCL would announce Tuesday that it was closing the hospital. SCL’s statement laid out a narrow path for the hospital to remain open, however. It offered to donate St. Francis Health to another organization if one stepped up quickly but ruled out a long transition. “With orSt. Francis Health Owner Says Hospital ‘Not Sustainable’http://kmuw.org/post/st-francis-health-owner-says-hospital-not-sustainable
82107 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 18 Apr 2017 23:03:00 +0000St. Francis Health Owner Says Hospital ‘Not Sustainable’Andy MarsoDr. Saeedeh Salmanzadeh became a U.S. citizen at a naturalization ceremony in October 2015. When the presiding official asked if any of the new citizens wanted to speak, she was one of the first to raise her hand. By then Salmanzadeh had spent 15 years in America, after leaving her home in Iran where she was a doctor. She had spent two years with no pay, studying for exams so she could practice in the United States. She had spent three years practicing alongside her husband — also an immigrant from Iran — in Aberdeen, S.D., where they were the only pediatricians in a town of about 27,000 people. She had spent a decade practicing in Topeka — expanding her patient list, buying a house and putting down roots. At the naturalization ceremony, Salmanzadeh made the last step in that process, taking an oath to support and defend the laws and Constitution of the United States of America. Afterward, she had a few things she wanted to say. “I just thank(ed) all the American people, all the peopleDoctors Caught In Middle As Travel Ban Intersects With Rural Recruitmenthttp://kmuw.org/post/doctors-caught-middle-travel-ban-intersects-rural-recruitment
79915 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 27 Feb 2017 23:31:57 +0000Doctors Caught In Middle As Travel Ban Intersects With Rural RecruitmentSam ZeffOne critical part of Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget-balancing plan is creation of a statewide health insurance pool that Kansas public school teachers would have to join.Can Kansas Save $80M A Year With A Statewide Insurance Pool For Teachers?http://kmuw.org/post/can-kansas-save-80m-year-statewide-insurance-pool-teachers
78834 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 03 Feb 2017 13:42:13 +0000Can Kansas Save $80M A Year With A Statewide Insurance Pool For Teachers?Carla EckelsWichita's Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph is under construction. St. Joseph is undergoing a $50 million renovation plan. The hospital, located in southeast Wichita, is converting its medical-surgical units to private patient rooms on the 5th, 6th and 7th floors. This follows the renovation of their New Life Center, which now has large private delivery rooms. Laurie Labarca, the hospital's president, says the plan also includes location changes for some of the mental health services. "This offers us the opportunity to have more integrated care for our behavioral health patients by consolidating our behavioral health services that we have currently at our Good Shepherd campus...back over to the St. Joseph campus.," Labarca says. Part of the renovation includes a rooftop facility so that patients can have access to fresh air within walls and big windows, but no ceiling. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. -- Carla Eckels is assistant news director and the host ofVia Christi Hospital St. Joseph To Undergo Renovationshttp://kmuw.org/post/christi-hospital-st-joseph-undergo-renovations
78777 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 02 Feb 2017 14:14:45 +0000Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph To Undergo RenovationsMeg WingerterKansas was the only state where the obesity rate went up significantly in 2015, according to an annual report, and state officials are trying to figure out why and how to reverse the trend. The state also lagged on vaccination rates and remained stuck in the middle on overall health, according to the America’s Health Rankings Report , which was released Thursday. Download the full report here. Kansas ranked 27th in the report, which rates the 50 states on a broad range of measures, including health behaviors, access to care, state policies and residents’ health outcomes. The state has hovered at 26th or 27th since 2013 . About 34 percent of Kansans, or one in three, were obese, according to the report. That echoes another annual report issued earlier this year by the Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which also noted that Kansas also was one of only two states whose obesity rate increased significantly between 2014 and 2015 . Missouri didn’t fare muchKansas Stuck In The Middle In Overall Health Even As Obesity Rate Climbshttp://kmuw.org/post/kansas-stuck-middle-overall-health-even-obesity-rate-climbs
76884 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 16 Dec 2016 20:24:51 +0000Kansas Stuck In The Middle In Overall Health Even As Obesity Rate ClimbsNadya FaulxHealth care costs under the Affordable Care Act are up this year in Kansas—for some plans, it’s by nearly 50 percent. But many customers aren't expected to feel that impact. A new analysis prepared for the Associated Press shows premiums will increase by as much as 46 percent. But Sheldon Weisgrau, director of the Kansas-based Health Reform Resource Project , says subsidies and tax credits are also up this year, which helps to offset the costs for many customers. “The price increases they’re going to feel will be much less than what the bottom line increase looks like," he says. "Some of them might not see an increase at all.” That’s good news for the 80 percent of Kansas customers who do receive subsidies and tax credits. “For people who aren’t getting tax credits and subsidies, or for people who are buying individual insurance plans off the marketplace, they are going to see big price increases," Weisgrau says. "And for them, this is going to be a hard pill to swallow.” The ObamaHealth Care Costs Up Under Obamacare, But Many Kansans Won't Feel Impacthttp://kmuw.org/post/health-care-costs-under-obamacare-many-kansans-wont-feel-impact
74852 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 28 Oct 2016 22:00:11 +0000Health Care Costs Up Under Obamacare, But Many Kansans Won't Feel ImpactBryan ThompsonFederal health officials say headlines about anticipated premium increases on the Obamacare health insurance marketplace overlook an important point: Most Americans, including two-thirds of Kansans, will still be able to find a plan with a premium of $75 a month, or less. The Department of Health and Human Services says almost 90 percent of those shopping on the marketplace qualify for tax credits to offset the rising premiums. HHS official Katie Martin says even if premiums rose 50 percent across the board, coverage would still be available for $75 a month to 73 percent of purchasers. “We know there has been speculation about rates in the marketplace, and we want to make sure that everyone understands that headline rate increases do not reflect what consumers actually pay," she says. Deputy Kansas Insurance Commissioner Clark Schultz says there are many possible reasons that premiums are going up. One is because some people don’t buy insurance until they need medical care. “It’s aFederal Health Officials Seek To Tamp Down Concerns About Rising Insurance Premiumshttp://kmuw.org/post/federal-health-officials-seek-tamp-down-concerns-about-rising-insurance-premiums
72247 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 25 Aug 2016 14:44:09 +0000Federal Health Officials Seek To Tamp Down Concerns About Rising Insurance PremiumsJim McLeanThe effort to expand Medicaid in Kansas has been stuck in the political mud for the better part of three years. Not anymore. The results of last week’s primary election may have given expansion advocates the traction they need to overcome opposition from Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and legislative conservatives who thus far have blocked debate on the issue. A series of victories by moderate Republicans over conservative incumbents and challengers for open seats has fundamentally changed the legislative landscape. “I’ve been working at KHA for 30 years and I’ve never seen this kind of change in one single election,” says Tom Bell, president and chief executive of the Kansas Hospital Association. Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, agrees. “This was a landslide election,” Hawkins says. “It was a game changer.” David Jordan, director of the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas coalition, says voters sent a message on a host of issuesKansas Primary Results Energize Medicaid Expansion Advocateshttp://kmuw.org/post/kansas-primary-results-energize-medicaid-expansion-advocates
71476 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 08 Aug 2016 16:47:59 +0000Kansas Primary Results Energize Medicaid Expansion AdvocatesStephen KorandaTwo of the state’s three KanCare Medicaid contracts were making a profit by the end of last year, according to a report given to lawmakers Friday in Topeka. Some previous records had shown losses at all three of the companies that manage the state’s privatized Medicaid program. By the end of 2015, the newest report shows UnitedHealthcare had made $44 million, Amerigroup had made $31 million and Sunflower Health Plan had lost $16 million. The report came as part of a two-day hearing that included Medicaid health care providers and recipients sharing concerns about problems with the system. Democratic state Rep. Jim Ward questioned if the profits have come at the cost of services and a Medicaid application waiting list . “You’ve heard for two days the problems that are going on within the system, all dealing with not getting services, not becoming eligible, all of which affects the bottom line,” Ward said. Mike Randol, with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said there’s noKanCare Contractors Make Profits As Committee Hears Complaints About Serviceshttp://kmuw.org/post/kancare-contractors-make-profits-committee-hears-complaints-about-services
71445 as http://kmuw.orgSun, 07 Aug 2016 17:58:25 +0000KanCare Contractors Make Profits As Committee Hears Complaints About Services